- Local time
- 07:37
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Capital
- Gustavia
- Calling code
- +590
- Drive on the
- right
Overview
A small French island of beaches, gourmet restaurants and designer shops around Gustavia harbour, with villas on the hillsides and no high rises, reached by small planes and ferries from nearby islands.
Saint-Barthélemy, also called St Barts or St Barth, is a French overseas collectivity in the Leeward Islands. It is not part of the European Union but one of the overseas countries and territories associated with it. It covers just 21 km² of cliffs and hills. The island belonged to Sweden from the late 18th to the late 19th century and was part of Guadeloupe until 2007. Its capital, Gustavia, is built around a rectangular harbour lined with low shops and restaurants and full of sailboats and yachts.
St Barts specialises in high-end tourism: it is known for its beaches, its restaurants and its designer shopping. A local law keeps every building lower than a palm tree, so there are no high rises or large resorts, and most tourist rooms are in private villas. The island is not easy to reach, which is part of its appeal: the airport takes only small planes, and the harbour only smaller cruise ships. French is the official language and many people in tourism speak English. The currency is the euro.
- Gustavia: The harbour capital, with old stone buildings, three forts, a lighthouse above the town and luxury shops by the port.
- Saint-Jean Bay: The most popular beach, facing the airport, good for surfing and windsurfing.
- Shell Beach: A bay with clear water close to Gustavia port, with views of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Corossol: A small fishing village where baskets and hats are woven from latan leaves.
- Diving at Pain de Sucre: A dive site 5 minutes by boat from Gustavia.
- Morne de Vitet: A climb to the top of a 286-metre hill.
Places to visit
Cities
- Gustavia: The capital, built around a rectangular harbour, founded more than 200 years ago, with stone buildings, forts and luxury shops.
Beyond the cities
- Saint-Jean (coast): The bay east of Gustavia, facing the airport, with the most popular beach on the island and luxury resorts.
- Shell Beach (coast): A bay near Gustavia port with clear water and views of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Anse de Grande Saline (coast): A bay with salt ponds where you can see tropical birds.
- Anse de Marigot (coast): The bay locals recommend for snorkelling.
- Colombier Bay (coast): A bay with popular dive sites.
- Corossol (town): A small fishing village known for crafts made of latan leaves.
- Lorient (town): A town with a surf spot.
- La Pointe (district): The creole quarter, an English-speaking area.
- Point à Toiny (island): A small cay near the town of Lorient.
- Morne de Vitet (mountain): A hill rising to 286 metres that you can climb to the top.
- Pain de Sucre (site): A dive site 5 minutes by boat from Gustavia port.
Things to do
See
- Walk around Gustavia harbour Gustavia: Old stone buildings, three forts and a lighthouse on the rocky coast above the town, with sailboats and yachts in the harbour.
- Birdwatching Anse de Grande Saline: Tropical birds gather around the salt ponds.
- The Bucket: A sailing event for very large yachts in late March; other annual events include Carnival in February and Bastille Day.
Do
- Surfing Toiny, Lorient, Anse des Cayes and Saint-Jean: Shops in Saint-Jean and Gustavia rent equipment, and you can find a guide.
- Windsurfing Saint-Jean: Clubs rent equipment and run lessons.
- Snorkelling Anse de Marigot: Snorkelling starts right from the beach, and locals recommend Anse de Marigot.
- Diving Pain de Sucre and Colombier Bay: Pain de Sucre is 5 minutes by boat from Gustavia, and the Groupers site, between St Martin and St Barth, has tunnels and sharks.
- Climb Morne de Vitet: A walk to the top of the 286-metre hill.
Shop
- Luxury shopping Gustavia: Jewellery and luxury clothing shops face the port, including Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chopard, Bulgari and Cartier.
- Latan crafts Corossol: Baskets and hats handmade from latan leaves in the fishing village.
Itineraries
A week on St Barth (7 days)
- Gustavia (3 nights): The harbour, the forts and the shops, a swim at Shell Beach and a dive at Pain de Sucre.
- Saint-Jean (4 nights): The beach and windsurfing, surfing at Lorient, birds at Anse de Grande Saline and the climb up Morne de Vitet.
A day trip from Saint Martin (1 days)
- Gustavia (0 nights): Arrive by ferry from Marigot, Oyster Pond or Simpson Bay, and walk the harbour and the shops.
- Shell Beach (0 nights): A swim close to the port before the boat back.
Holidays and events
- 1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
- 6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
- 1 May 2026 · Labour Day
- 8 May 2026 · Victory Day
- 14 May 2026 · Ascension Day
- 25 May 2026 · Whit Monday
- 14 July 2026 · National Day
- 15 August 2026 · Assumption Day
- 9 October 2026 · Abolition Day
- 1 November 2026 · All Saints' Day
- 11 November 2026 · Armistice Day
- 25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
Getting around
There is no public transport, so you need to rent a car or a scooter, or take a taxi. Taxis wait at two stands, at the airport and at the docks in Gustavia, and some offer island tours. The island is small, and everything is within a half-hour drive. About a dozen rental companies have desks at the airport, and some hotels can arrange a car.
Road conditions are good, but roads are narrow, steep and winding and can be congested; often there is only one road between two places, running along cliff edges, and Canada notes that accidents are becoming more frequent. Wikivoyage recommends a small 4x4 and advises against renting a scooter. The speed limit is 50 km/h across the island, and honking is considered very impolite. Canada says you can drive with a valid Canadian licence for up to 90 days if it is in French or comes with an official translation recognised in France, or with an international driving permit. The legal driving age is 18, but many rental companies require drivers to be at least 25 with two years' experience.
Flying to St. Barthélemy? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flightsWhere to stay
- Villas: Most tourist rooms are in private villas, from one to six bedrooms, mostly on hillsides cooled by the wind rather than on the beach.
- Small hotels: About 25 hotels, most with 15 rooms or fewer, classified 3-Star, 4-Star or 4-Star Luxe.
- Value-priced hotels: Wikivoyage names the Sunset Hotel, Salines Garden and the Christopher Hotel.
- Apartments: Some reasonably priced apartments and villas are available alongside the high-end ones.
The island specialises in high-end tourism, and hotels, villas and restaurants are rarely sold in package deals, so bargains are scarce in high season. The Christmas and New Year period is the peak, and high season lasts until mid-April. In low season many hotels, villas and car rental companies offer significant discounts.
Eat and drink
Dishes to try
- Local fish: The one ingredient that is not imported.
- French and fusion cooking: Gustavia has French and local cuisine as well as French-Japanese fusion.
Drinks
- Le Select: A bar in Gustavia where locals and sailors meet.
- Party venues: A beach club on Saint-Jean, and at Pointe Milou a restaurant with a cabaret show and a DJ.
Be prepared to spend: everything except fish is imported, and prices reflect it. Restaurants range from garden settings with French and local cooking in Gustavia to French-Japanese fusion and French and international dining in a garden at Grande Saline.
Entry requirements and visas
| Passport validity | Valid for the whole of your stay, according to Canada |
|---|
Saint-Barthélemy is a French overseas collectivity, but it is not part of the European Union. Canada asks that your passport be valid for the whole of your stay. If you arrive from, or have transited through an airport of, a country where yellow fever occurs, you need proof of vaccination.
French customs may strictly enforce rules on bringing in or taking out items such as firearms, medicines and animals. Rules depend on your passport and can change: check the official link before you book.
Money and payments
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
|---|
As in the rest of France, the currency is the euro (EUR, €). Prices are high: apart from fish, everything is imported. Package deals are rare, but in low season hotels, villas and car rental companies offer significant discounts.
Health
| Required vaccines | Yellow fever, but only if you arrive from, or have transited through an airport of, a country where yellow fever occurs |
|---|---|
| Recommended vaccines | Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), Hepatitis A, recommended for all travellers, Hepatitis B, recommended for all travellers, Typhoid, for some travellers: rural areas, long stays or visiting friends and relatives, Rabies, if you will work with wildlife |
Canada reports no risk of yellow fever, but you need proof of vaccination if you arrive from, or have transited through an airport of, a country where it occurs. Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are spread by mosquitoes, so protect yourself from bites at all times; if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk to a doctor about Zika before you go. Check with a travel health professional before your trip.
Canada describes health care as excellent and available throughout the island. Serious cases may still need medical evacuation, which can be very expensive, so take travel insurance that covers evacuation and hospital stays. For emergencies, dial 112.
This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.
Safety
- United States: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (2026-10-20)
- Canada: Take normal security precautions (2026-10-20)
Canada advises normal security precautions and describes the crime rate as low. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching occurs, so keep your passport and documents secure, do not leave valuables in your car, and use the safe in your villa or hotel.
Coastal waters can be dangerous and riptides are common, while rescue services may be limited: respect the warning flags on the beaches. If you rent equipment or take diving or sailing lessons, check that your travel insurance covers them. Roads are narrow and steep, often along cliff edges, and accidents are becoming more frequent. The hurricane season runs from early June to the end of November. The emergency number is 112.
Customs and etiquette
St Barts is very French and traditional. Say Bonjour when you enter a shop or restaurant and Au revoir when you leave, and greet strangers you pass in quiet places. Men shake hands, but only at the first meeting of the day; between men and women, and when greeting women, a kiss on each cheek is customary, right cheek first. In a group, greet every person individually. Honking your horn is considered very impolite.
Penalties for drugs are severe, with jail sentences and heavy fines. To marry on the island, one of you must have lived there for a month, so most weddings are in fact blessings by an Anglican or Catholic priest, or secular celebrations.
Language
| Official languages | French |
|---|---|
| English | Common |
| Hello (when you enter a shop or restaurant) | Bonjour |
|---|---|
| Goodbye (when you leave) | Au revoir |
| The greeting kiss on each cheek | La bise |
What to pack
- An official translation of your driving licence, or an international driving permit: Canada says a licence not in French needs a translation recognised in France.
- Insect repellent: Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are spread by mosquitoes.
- Travel insurance that covers diving, sailing and evacuation: Canada advises it for water sports, and evacuation can be very expensive.
- Mask, snorkel and fins: You can snorkel straight from the beach.
- Proof of yellow fever vaccination: Only if you arrive from, or transit through, a country where yellow fever occurs.
Quick reference
Country facts
| Capital | Gustavia |
|---|---|
| Population | 10,124 (2018) |
| Area | 24 km² |
| Time zone | America/St_Barthelemy (UTC-4) |
| Calling code | +590 |
| Driving side | right |
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to St Barth?
By small plane from Saint Martin, San Juan or St Thomas, or by ferry from Marigot, Oyster Pond or Simpson Bay on Saint Martin. From Europe you can connect in Guadeloupe or Sint Maarten.
Is there public transport on St Barth?
No. You need to rent a car or a scooter, or take a taxi from the stands at the airport and at Gustavia port.
What currency is used in St Barth?
The euro, as in the rest of France.
When is high season in St Barth?
From Christmas and New Year, the peak, until mid-April. In low season hotels, villas and car rentals offer significant discounts.
What do I need to enter St Barth?
Canada asks for a passport valid for your whole stay. St Barth is a French overseas collectivity but not part of the EU. Rules depend on your passport: check the official link before you book.
What is the emergency number in St Barth?
Dial 112 for emergency assistance.
Sources This guide was last checked on · 9 sources
- Wikivoyage: Saint-Barthélemy · Overview, Places to visit, Things to do, Itineraries, Getting around, Where to stay, Eat and drink, Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, Safety, Customs and etiquette, Language, What to pack, Frequently asked questions
- Wikidata: Saint-Barthélemy · Overview, Money and payments, Country facts
- Government of Canada: Saint-Barthélemy travel advice (updated 23 June 2026) · Overview, Getting around, Entry requirements and visas, Health, Safety, Customs and etiquette, What to pack, Frequently asked questions
- European Commission: Overseas Countries and Territories · Overview, Entry requirements and visas, Frequently asked questions
- Nager.Date: public holidays in St. Barthélemy, 2026 · Holidays and events
- ISO 4217 (SIX), published 2026-09-17 · Money and payments
- US CDC: Travelers' health, St. Barthélemy · Health
- US Department of State: St. Barthélemy travel advisory · Safety
- IANA Time Zone Database, zone.tab · Country facts
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